We surveyed 1,680 industrial engineers to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical industrial engineer. Here are the results.
How much intelligence is required as an industrial engineer?
Low
High
Working as an industrial engineer typically requires higher levels of intelligence when compared with the average career. This means that industrial engineers are required to actively learn new things related to their discipline and solve complex problems.
Can I learn to become an industrial engineer?
Intrinsic Talent
Acquired Talent
A career as an industrial engineer typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.
Is it easy to get a job as an industrial engineer?
Easy
Hard
It’s typically difficult to find a job as an industrial engineer. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for industrial engineers.
Do industrial engineers work full-time or part-time?
86% of industrial engineers work in full-time roles while 14% work part-time.
Is being an industrial engineer stressful?
Low
High
Stress is not uncommon amongst industrial engineers, with daily work sometimes being quite demanding.
Is being organized important as an industrial engineer?
Low
High
Some level of organization is generally required to be an industrial engineer.
How competitive is the workplace for industrial engineers?
Low
High
Industrial engineers see mild competition in their workplace.
Does being an industrial engineer require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?
Low
High
Time pressure tends not to be a major contributor of stress for industrial engineers.
Are industrial engineers allowed to express themselves creatively?
Low
High
Industrial engineers rarely get a chance to express themselves creatively.
Do industrial engineers have control over the direction of their work?
Low
High
While sometimes the direction is set, occasionally industrial engineers will have some flexibility over the direction of their work.
Is being an industrial engineer physically demanding?
Low
High
Work as an industrial engineers is not the most physically demanding of careers, falling in the bottom half of all careers.
Are industrial engineers exposed to a wide variety of work?
Low
High
While sometimes repetitive, industrial engineers tend to have opportunities for variety in their work.
Does being an industrial engineer require attention to detail?
Low
High
Attention to detail isn't necessarily required to be successful as an industrial engineer.
Does being a good industrial engineer require compassion and empathy?
Low
High
The ability to be compassion and empathetic isn't considered fundamental to success as an industrial engineer.